Adjustable magnetic resistance device for exercise bike

ABSTRACT

An adjustable magnetic resistance force of an exercise bike includes two members pivotally connected to a frame of the bike and a casing with magnets received therein is connected to the two members. A plate is connected between a spring and a control cable of the bike. The plate is pivotably connected to one of the two members so that when pulling the control cable, the two members are pivoted and the casing is shifted away from the fly wheel so as to adjust the overlapped portion between the magnets and the fly wheel.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an adjustable magneticresistance device for exercise bike wherein the magnets are received ina casing which is clamped between two members which can be pulled awayfrom a fly wheel so as to adjust the magnetic resistance force of theexercise bike.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A conventional exercise bike has a wheel and a plurality ofmagnets are received in the wheel. These magnets are connected with eachother by a belt which is connected to a control bar so that when theuser pulls the control bar, the position of the magnets are movedrelative to a fly wheel and the resistant force between the magnets andthe fly wheel is adjusted. However, the magnets received in the wheelcould be affected by metal objects when being put close to the wheel.Besides, the magnets are connected to a belt which is a flexible belt sothat when pulling the bar to adjust the position of the magnets, theflexible belt could bend to a position that is not what it is supposedto be and the adjustment of the resistance force becomes less precise.The magnets received in the wheel also makes the replacement ormaintenance for the magnets to be difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an adjustable magnetic resistance device of an exercise bikeand which comprises a lug extending from a top surface of a frame of thebike and a spring is connected to the lug. A plate has an end thereofconnected to a distal end of the spring and the other end of the plateis connected to a cable which is connected to a control member on ahandlebar post of the bike. A first member and a second member arerespectively received in the frame and extend from a hole in the frame.The first member is connected to the plate and a casing is pivotablyconnected between the first member and the second member by extendingtwo bolts through two slots in a side of the frame and the casing andbeing engaged with two respectively first ends of the first member andthe second member. Two respectively second ends of the first member andthe second member are pivotally connected to a lower end of the frame. Aplurality of magnets are engaged with the casing and face a surface ofthe fly wheel of the bike.

[0004] The primary object of the present invention is to provide anexercise bike that has a casing with magnets received therein and thecasing can be pivoted relative to the fly wheel by pulling a cable so asto adjust the overlapped portion between the magnets and the fly wheel.

[0005] The present invention will become more obvious from the followingdescription when taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswhich show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment inaccordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 is a perspective view to show the exercise bike of thepresent invention;

[0007]FIG. 2 is an exploded view to show the adjustable magneticresistance device of the exercise bike of the present invention;

[0008]FIG. 3 is an exploded view to show the fly wheel and theadjustable magnetic resistance device of the exercise bike of thepresent invention;

[0009]FIG. 4 is a side view to show the exercise bike of the presentinvention;

[0010]FIG. 5 is a side view to show when the adjustable magneticresistance device of the exercise bike of the present invention is notpulled, and

[0011]FIG. 6 is a side view to show when the adjustable magneticresistance device of the exercise bike of the present invention ispulled.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0012] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, the exercise bike of the presentinvention comprises a T-shaped support base 22 and a handlebar post 21extends from the support base 22 so that a handlebar is connected to atop of the handlebar post 21. A transverse frame 30 is connected to thehandlebar post 21 and a seat post extends from the frame 30. Two slots421, 422 are respectively defined through one side of the frame 30 and ahole 41 is defined through a top surface of the frame 30. A crank 34with two pedals 341 is connected to one end of the frame 30 and a wheel342 is engaged with the crank 34. A fly wheel 36 is connected to a shaft35 connected to the other end of the frame 30 and a chain 37 is reevedbetween the fly wheel 36 and the wheel 341 so that when rotating thecrank 34, the wheel 342 is rotated and the chain 37 drives the fly wheel36.

[0013] A lug 43 extends from the top surface of the frame 30 and aspring 56 is connected to the lug 43. A plate 512 has an end thereofconnected to a distal end of the spring 56 and the other end of theplate 512 is connected to a cable 55 which is connected to a controlmember 211 on the handlebar post 21. A first member 51 and a secondmember 52 are respectively received in the frame 30 and extend from thehole 41 in the frame 30. The first member 51 has two extensions 510extending therefrom and the plate 512 is connected between the twoextensions 510. An elongate casing 54 is pivotably connected between thefirst member 51 and the second member 52 by extending two bolts 53through the two slots 421, 422 and the casing 54 and being engaged withtwo holes 511, 521 in respective first ends of the first member 51 andthe second member 52. Two respectively second ends of the first member51 and the second member 52 are pivotally connected to a lower end ofthe frame 30 by bolts 530. A plurality of magnets 541 are engaged withthe casing 54 and located along a longitudinal axis of the casing 54.The magnets 541 face a surface of the fly wheel 36 as shown in FIG. 5.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 6, when pulling the cable 55 by operating thecontrol member 211, the cable 55 pivots the first member 51 and thesecond member 52 about the two respective bolts 530, the casing 54 alsotilts so that some portion of the magnets 541 are shifted away from thefly wheel 36. Therefore, this shifted portion of the magnets 541 willnot affect the fly wheel 36 so that the magnetic resistance force to thefly wheel 36 is reduced.

[0015] The magnets 541 are collected in the casing 54 which can beeasily accessed by the maintainer so that the maintenance can beconveniently proceeded. The mutual position relationship between themagnets 541 and the fly wheel 36 can be adjusted according to thepractical needs so that the magnetic resistance force may also beadjusted in various ways.

[0016] While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordancewith the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in theart that further embodiments may be made without departing from thescope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An exercise bike comprising: a support base and ahandlebar post, a transverse frame connected to said handlebar post andtwo slots respectively defined through one side of said frame, a crankconnected to one end of said frame and engaged with a wheel, a fly wheelconnected to the other end of said frame and a chain reeved between saidfly wheel and said wheel, a hole defined through a top surface of saidframe; a lug extending from said top surface of said frame and a springconnected to said lug, a plate having an end thereof connected to adistal end of said spring and the other end of said plate connected to acable which is connected to a control member on said handlebar post, anda first member and a second member respectively received in said frameand extending from said hole in said frame, said first member connectedto said plate, a casing pivotably connected between said first memberand said second member by extending two bolts through said two slots andsaid casing and engaged with two respective first ends of said firstmember and said second member, two respectively second ends of saidfirst member and said second member pivotally connected to a lower endof said frame, a plurality of magnets engaged with said casing andfacing a surface of said fly wheel.
 2. The exercise bike as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said casing is a elongate member and said magnets arelocated along a longitudinal axis of said casing.
 3. The exercise bikeas claimed in claim 1, wherein said first member has two extensionsextending therefrom and said plate connected between said twoextensions.